Decoding Fire Behaviour with a Legend: Myths, Arson and Junk Science

In this episode of What the Fire, we sit down with legendary fire investigator and forensic scientist John Lentini to unpack how our understanding of fire behaviour has changed and why so many investigation reports still get it wrong.John explains why “if you’re not a scientist, what are you doing in my profession?” isn’t just a sound bite, it’s a standard. We talk about:Why fire usually burns up and out, not downHow low burning and “suspicious” patterns are often misreadThe overuse (and misuse) of liquid accelerant conclusionsHow junk science and bad assumptions have fuelled wrongful arson findingsWhat it really means to think like a scientist in fire investigation, even without a science degreeWhether you’re writing reports, reviewing them, or trying to lift the standard of care in your organisation, this conversation will challenge the way you look at fire scenes and documentation.If you find this episode valuable, please follow the show, rate the podcast, and leave a review with your feedback – it helps more people in the fire and forensic community discover What the Fire.Keywords: fire investigation, fire behaviour, accelerants, fire reports, forensic scienceJohn Lentini LinkedInWhat the Fire InstagramWhat the Fire LinkedInForensic Origin and Cause InvestigationsHost: Vithyaa Thavapalan LinkedIn